Abacha’s wife defends husband over looted funds 

Maryam Abacha, widow of the late military ruler General Sani Abacha, has spoken out strongly against the continued allegations that her husband looted billions of dollars and stashed them in foreign accounts.

In a recent interview with TVC, Maryam expressed frustration over public perception, describing Nigerians as “fools” for believing reports of recovered Abacha-linked funds from overseas. She questioned the credibility of such claims, challenging authorities to produce concrete evidence.

“Who are the witnesses to these alleged funds? Did anyone see any signatures or proof that money was hidden abroad?” she asked.

She insisted that during her husband’s rule, money was actually saved for the country, and she claimed that these funds mysteriously disappeared after his death. According to her, the ongoing narrative is not just about alleged corruption but is also fueled by tribalism and religious bias.

Between 2020 and 2023, the Nigerian government announced the recovery of more than $3.6 billion allegedly tied to the Abacha regime, with funds returned from countries including the United Kingdom, United States, and France.

Maryam Abacha, however, criticized the persistent focus on her late husband, arguing that it reflects deeper societal issues. She urged Nigerians and the media to let go of the past and focus on building a more united country.

“Even the man on the street matters. We are all human beings, for goodness’ sake. All this wahala should stop,” she said.